NBA ALL-STAR MEDIA DAY

February 19, 2022

Zach LaVine

Media Day Press Conference

Q. Did it feel good being back on the court?

ZACH LAVINE: I wanted to go out there and make sure everything was good. I've been battling the knee soreness for a little bit, not playing at 100%, but I want to continue to go out there and try to help us win. So them last three games I had to really just take it upon myself to make sure I was okay for the second half of the season. I feel way better.

Q. On his knee:

ZACH LAVINE: I feel like I had to make sure everything was good going into the second half, and me doing everything I could do to get it as close to 100% as I can, so it's very manageable. I'm here now. I'm healthy. I feel great. I feel a lot better than I did before, and I'm ready to get going.

Q. (No microphone.)

ZACH LAVINE: That's their opinion, you know? It's the All-Star Game. It means a lot to a lot of us. We put in a lot of hard work and dedication. If I'm healthy to play, I'll play. It means a lot to me.

Q. On his knee treatment:

ZACH LAVINE: I was able to go out there and get some PRP and some cortisone, had it drained a little bit. It will get me through the end of the season, and in the offseason I'll be able to take care of it and try to get myself 100%. The season is important enough for me personally, I'll be able to go out there and play and do what I have to do still.

Q. (No microphone.)

ZACH LAVINE: I take it each day at a time. You know, this season has been incredible for me, obviously, for many reasons, but I hate missing games personally. I just don't like it. I try to play through as much as I can, and if I'm able to still be myself and contribute at the high level where I expect myself to, I'm going to do that. I just take it day by day.

Q. (No microphone.)

ZACH LAVINE: We'll see how it is. I think we'll have a plan going forward, but I think the most important thing is hopefully by playoff time I'm healthy and ready to go out there and compete and go far.

Q. (Question about DeMar DeRozan.)

ZACH LAVINE: DeMar has been great. We talked before the season, even before coming here and just having him be on the team, to add another guy that's been in these situations at the top level in these big-time games, where we haven't been there before. He has been to the Eastern Conference Finals a couple of times and been in big moments, and his calmness is always something that's been helping our team.

Q. (No microphone.)

ZACH LAVINE: DeMar? He should be. He has always been one of the most respected players in the NBA throughout the players and guys that actually know it, but I think this year it's just he has put on a national broadcast to where he really shows how good he is and how much he has been working on his game.

Q. Now are you here, DeMar, Ayo. How different is this All-Star experience?

ZACH LAVINE: It's been great having more guys on the team being out here to participate. The year that we're having, obviously, me and DeMar being on the team and Ayo being on the Rising Stars game, it shows the progression of the franchise. We're trending in the right direction, and obviously, we're all here for a reason.

Q. (No microphone.)

ZACH LAVINE: I've always had confidence in myself. I've always put myself up here with the top guys in the league. I feel like I played that way. Sometimes you have the cards you're dealt and have to go out there compete and win games. That's where we're at right now, and I'm very happy for that.

Q. (Question about Tristan Thompson.)

ZACH LAVINE: It's great. I have talked to him. I think he is going to bring a lot. Another experienced guy, championship-level guy that has been in these games before to where he can help us in these situations. A.K. (Arturas Karnisovas) and Marc (Eversley), obviously, they're going for it. Obviously, they trust in me. They trust DeMar. They trust in this group. It means a lot going into the last year of my contract that they're putting a team around us that can compete.

Q. (No microphone.)

ZACH LAVINE: I think they're always trying to improve the team. We're going to try to compete and do the best we can and compete to the championship-level aspirations. I think they're going to try to improve the team and get us better, so when we're in those situations, we're ready for them.

Q. (Question about his strategy in the 3-Point contest.)

ZACH LAVINE: Money ball rack? I don't know yet. I put it in the middle my first year. I went with them first last year in the corner. I don't know if I'll switch it up this year. But I'm pretty familiar with the competition. I'm excited, and hopefully I can take it home. I haven't decided yet. Yeah.

Q. You've spent some time with Darius Garland in the summer. What did you see from him?

ZACH LAVINE: He was by far one of the best players on the Select Team. That's why he was selected to continue to play with us, and then play in some of the scrimmage games as well. Darius is really, really good. Obviously, he is here for a reason. He got the Cavs as top contenders. But in that environment what I know it's just how quickly he picked up on the pace and the competition wasn't anything to him. He was eager for it.

Q. Do you have a story from a moment that he had during that time against you guys?

ZACH LAVINE: We were practicing each and every day and there were countless stories. He was going at each and every guy. He is fearless. That's the main thing I can say.